StepEx

Can I get a student loan for the PGDL?

No. The PGDL is a postgraduate diploma, and the Master’s Loan is only for a full master’s. The ways round it, and what they cost.

  • Not available

    Master’s Loan for a PGDL

  • Up to £13,206

    Master’s Loan for an MA Law or LLM conversion

Find courses you could afford

Key facts

PGDL, University of Law, 2027/28
£16,050 London, £12,950 outside London or online, including the £250 deposit
MA Law (Conversion), University of Law, 2027/28
£18,350 in London, £15,150 outside London, including the £250 deposit

No. Student Finance England’s Master’s Loan cannot be used for a postgraduate certificate or diploma, and the PGDL (Postgraduate Diploma in Law) is a diploma. If you want government funding for a law conversion course, look at the master’s versions: an MA Law or LLM conversion course is a full standalone master’s, which does qualify.

Courses for this guide

Law conversion courses in the finder

Diplomas and master’s side by side. Enter your details once to see the loan position and the ways to pay for each.

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Courses with a StepEx loan

StepEx Lender Ltd offers loans for these courses. Approval is not guaranteed.

The University of Law

StepEx loanSee the representative example
PGDL Non London / Online Full Time

PGDL · Full time · 1 year · Online

StepEx loan: 48 months · 6.1% APR representative

Fee
£12,950

Fee for 2027/28

No SLC loan
Affordability
Outcomes
University employment rate: 90%

The University of Law

StepEx loanSee the representative example
PGDL Non London / Online Part Time

PGDL · Part time · 2 years · Online

StepEx loan: 60 months · 4.9% APR representative

Fee
£12,950

Fee for 2027/28 · whole course, over 2 years

No SLC loan
Affordability
Outcomes
University employment rate: 90%

The University of Law

StepEx loanSee the representative example
MA Law (Conversion) Non London Full Time

MA · Full time · 1 year

StepEx loan: 48 months · 9.0% APR representative

Fee
£15,150

Fee for 2027/28

£1,944 more than the SLC master's loan covers
Affordability
Outcomes
University employment rate: 90%

Our ranking is impartial: whether a course has a StepEx loan is not a factor. All courses are ranked by affordability, then graduate pay at 5 years. Courses with a StepEx loan are also shown in a separate section above.

More about how we rank

Top 5 of 15 courses

15 likely affordable · affordable first, then highest graduate pay at 5 years

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Brighton

Law Conversion LLM

LLM · Full time · 1 year

Fee
£11,808

Fee for 2027/28

The SLC master's loan covers the fee
Affordability
Outcomes
University employment rate: not available

BPP University

LLM Law Conversion with SQE1

LLM · Full time · 1 year

Fee
£17,300

Fee for 2027/28

£4,094 more than the SLC master's loan covers
Affordability
Outcomes
University employment rate: 92%

BPP University

LLM Law Conversion Master's

LLM · Part time · 2 years

Fee
£19,200

Fee for 2027-2028 · whole course, over 2 years

£5,994 more than the SLC master's loan covers
Affordability
Outcomes
University employment rate: 92%

Chichester

LLM Law Conversion

LLM · Full time · 1 year

Fee
£10,620

Fee for 2027/28

The SLC master's loan covers the fee
Affordability
Outcomes
University employment rate: not available

St Mary's

Law (Conversion) LLM

LLM · Full time · 1 year

Fee
£12,150

Fee for September 2027 entry

The SLC master's loan covers the fee
Affordability
Outcomes
University employment rate: not available

Open Affordability or Outcomes on any course for the detail. Courses with a StepEx loan are marked and get no preference in the order. How we work it out

Paying the university directly assumes three instalments: at the start, after 4 months and after 7 months. Estimates based on the figures shown, not advice. A StepEx loan is subject to identity, affordability and credit checks; approval is not guaranteed.

Why the loan does not cover the PGDL

GOV.UK’s rule is that the course must be a full, standalone master’s and that you cannot get the loan for a postgraduate certificate or diploma. The PGDL sits in the second group. The same applies to the older GDL.

The master’s route

Several providers teach the same conversion content inside a master’s: for example the University of Law’s MA Law (Conversion), BPP’s LLM Law Conversion Master’s (£19,200 in London, £17,100 elsewhere or online, 2027/28) and Birmingham City University’s Conversion in Law LLM (£13,330, 2027/28). GOV.UK lists the LLM as a qualifying master’s. The master’s version usually costs more than the diploma and takes the same year full-time, so compare the extra fee with the £13,206 of loan it unlocks.

The loan is paid to you in instalments, so it can also go towards living costs or, for aspiring barristers and solicitors, the next stage of training.

Scholarships for a conversion course

If you intend to practise at the Bar, the four Inns of Court award scholarships for the conversion course. You may apply to one Inn only, and the closing dates fall in early May of the year the course starts (Middle Temple: 7 May 2027). The Bar Course scholarships have a separate, earlier deadline, see the Bar guide.

Ways to pay for the PGDL itself

  • Student loan. Where the course qualifies, the Master’s Loan of £13,206 (England; other UK nations differ, see the nations guide).
  • Pay the university. Ask about paying in instalments across the year; the university’s own page sets the dates.
  • Employer. Some employers pay all or part of a fee, usually with a condition that you stay for a period afterwards.
  • Scholarships and discounts. University scholarships and alumni discounts, see the scholarships guide.
  • StepEx loan. On the courses listed on the finance availability page, credit from StepEx Lender Ltd lets you pay the fee in monthly repayments after a deposit. Approval is not guaranteed. The representative example for each course is on the provider’s page.

A StepEx loan is credit from StepEx Lender Ltd, available on the courses listed on the finance availability page. Approval is not guaranteed. The representative example for each course is on the provider’s page.

Ways to pay

  • SLC

    The government SLC master's loan. The amount depends on where you live.

    How the SLC master's loan works

  • Pay the university directly

    Usually in three instalments: at the start, after 4 months and after 7 months.

  • StepEx loan

    Available on some courses here. See the representative example on the provider page.

    Check finance availability

Questions people ask

No for the PGDL. If you later take a Bar course that is a full LLM, you could apply for the loan then, provided you have not held a master’s loan or a master’s degree before.

No. GOV.UK says you are still eligible if you already hold a postgraduate diploma or certificate.

Related guides

Sources and dates

Checked 7 November 2026. Figures are for UK students and change each year; check the university's page before you apply. Not advice.

Estimates, not advice.

Questions about these guides? Contact us.